Extensible ladder.



A. M. MORGAN.

EXTENSIBLE LADDER.

APPLICATlON FILED JULY 8. 1914.

1,151,809. Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAFH co., WASHINGTON, n.

AUSTIN M. 110RGAN, OF TROY, OHIO.

EXTENSIBLE LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AUsrIN M. MORGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Troy, in the county of Miami and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extensible Ladders. oi which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in extensible ladders, more especially adapted for use in supporting scaffolding on the interior or exterior of buildings for decorative or other purposes, or for any other use where scaffolding or extensible ladders may be used, for instance for the use of carpenters, Plasterers, painters, fruit pickers, etc.

An object of the invention is to provide an extensible ladder or scatlold support which will be self-supporting and also one in which t e supports for the same will be adapted to meet the unevenness and roughness of the ground on which or the different conditions of floor space found in different structures in which the scailolding is to be erected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character referred to which will be simple in construction and eli'ective in operation.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of a device embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation or" the same. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan. Fig. is a side view of one of the hinges which connects one of the adjustable supports. Fig. 5 is a top plan of the same. Fig. 6 is a top plan of one of the slide heads which connects one of the support braces to the slide rod, the slide rod being shown in section. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the same.

Like parts are represented by similar characters 01 reference in the several views.

In the present instance, there is shown three ladder sections 1, 2 and 3, all slidably connected together, each side of the section 2 having a tongue lsliding in a groove 5 in the section 1 and each side of the section 3 being provided with a similar tongue 6, slidably arranged in groove 7 in the section 2.

Means are provided for holding these sections in diiierent positions of adjustment with respect to each other. Slidably arranged in the side members and also in brackets 8, secured to cross-members 9 of each of the sections 2 and 3 is a pair of oppositely extending locking bolts 10, normally held in engagement with ratchet teeth 11 in the bottom of each of the grooves 5 and 7 by springs 12, interposed between the respective brackets 8 and collars 13 on the respective bolts. Each of the bolts is connected to a lever 14: pivotally mounted in a bracket 15, by a link 16, so that as the lever is turned in either direction the bolts may be withdrawn to permit the sections to be collapsed or telescoped. When it is desired to raise the section this may readily be done without manipulating the levers, since the bolts, being beveled on their ends will readily ratchet over the teeth 11. The

structure thus formed is adapted to be supported in upright position by adjustable supports 17, 18, 19 and 20. Each of these supports is connected to the lower end of the section 1 by a hinge 21, one leaf of the hinge being pivotally connected, as at 22 to the section 1. The outer free end of each support has pivotally connected therewith a brace rod 23 and the upper end of each brace rod is slidably connected to a guide rod 2 1 located on each side of the section 1. Each brace 23 is connected to the guide rod 24 through the medium of a slide-head 25 pivotally connected to the brace and perforated to receive the rod 24L as shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7, said head having a set-screw 26 to hold the brace in any position of adjustment. By this construction it will be seen that the supports 17, 18, 19 and 20 may be swung to any desired position. F or instance, they may be adjusted so as to all stand at right angles to the ladder section, as shown in full lines in Fig. 8, or they may be thrown to any of the dotted line positions by reason of the hinged connections. Also it will be noticed that, when not in use, these supports may be folded against the sides of the section 1, as indicated by the position shown of the one 17 ,in Fig. 2by reason of the pivotal connections 22. This arrangement allows the supports to be adjusted so as to extend in different directions with respect to the ladder so as to conform to difierent conditions of floor space and obstruction met with in the use of the device.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 7

1. In a device of the character described, a ladder section, a plurality of supports connected to the lower end of said section,

means for permitting the adjustment of said supports at different angles in their supporting position with respect to the vertical plane of said section, and means for bracing said supports in their adjusted positions.

2. In a device of the character described, a ladder section, a plurality of supports at each side of said section, means for permitting the adjustment of said supports in their supporting positions at different angles with respect to the vertical plane of said section, means for permitting the folding of said supports against said section, and means for bracing said supports in their various supporting positions and holding them in folded position.

3. In a device of the character described, a ladder section, a pair of supports connected at each side of the lower end of said section, means for permitting the adjustment of said supports at different angles on the floor linewith respect to said section, means for permitting the folding of said supports against said section, and means for bracing said supports in their different supporting positions, and holding them in folded position.

4. In a device of the character described, a ladder section, a plurality of supports, hinges for connecting said supports to said section so that said supports may be adjusted at different angles with respect to said sections in their supporting position on the floor line, a pivotal connection between said hinges and said section to permit said sup- Copies of this patent may be obtained for port to be folded against said section, and means for bracing and holding said supports in their various positions.

5. In a device of the character described, a ladder section, a plurality of supports hingedly connected at the lower end of said section to permit the adjustment of said supports at different angles in their supporting position, means for permitting the folding of said supports against said section,guiderods on each side of said section, abrace connected to the outer end of each support and slidably connected to one of said rods, and means for holding said braces in different positions on said rod.

6. In a device of the character described, a ladder section, a plurality of supports hingedly connected to the lower end of said section to permit them to be adjusted to different supporting positions, means for permitting the folding of said supports against said section, a guide-rod on each side of said section, a brace pivotally connected to the outer end of each support, a slide head pivotally connected at the upper end of each brace and slidably mounted upon one of said rods and means for holding said slide head in different positions of adjustment on said rod.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this first day of July, 1914.

AUSTIN M. MORGAN.

"Witnesses:

J. G. FULLERTEN, Jr., MABEL G. HAINES.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

